32 — Wednesday, May 5, 1999 — North Shore News north shore news {: DINING Restaurant has brick oven heart 1734 Marine Drive, West Vancouver RESTAURANT 922-241 “You Said-It Winner * ‘d Soup of the Dag or Cacsar Safad Pan Fried Halibut with a Saffron Infused From page 31 inside Da Gino than pizza. Past the front door there is also a pretty good all- round {ralian restaurant with a good measure of formality to elevate it above the level of a basic pizzeria: waiters attired in white shirts with black trousers; chefs and cooks tricked out in full for- mal kitchen whites. Not too formal, mind you. Gino Milano's place pos- sesses an inner brick oven warmth that’s infectious —it brightens the spirit; sharpens the appetite and sets the ~ digestive juices to gentle sim- mer. Service, however, still hov- ers around a family diner level. Friendly, yes, but on a recent Friday night too cager and too hurried. The restaurant’s wine list is fairly limited; Italian bottles prevail; and there is only a house selection by the glass. Behind the service counter, Da Gino’s kitchen has good range. Aside from the pizza, which comes in regular, thin crust and calzone variations ($9 to $18), the menu includes some good veal, beefsteak and seafood dishes ($11 to $20) prepared with inventive Mediterranean vigour. Pasta, of course: $9 to $20. Dishes are available in sizes for one and nwo diners. Good variety, too Overall our Da Gino sam- pling vielded some hits and some misses, A sampled Scaloppine Alla Gine ($14.95), for example, presented veal prepared in a randy cream sauce that was rich but not overwhelming — veal needing much subtle Lifestyle Model 450R8 © 55,000 8TU's with intra-Red Rear Baumer Ff I + Evee Temperatere «© Porcelsia Exasael Roll Top Hoed © Easy t9 Siean D+ Unasiched BBQ Flavour GRILLS Available in Propane Neturai Ges NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge VEAL. flambe prepared at North Vancouver's Da Gino pizzeria and restaurant. support. Ir worked well. The veal’s accompani- ment, however, could have been betcer: roasted potatoes; sliced carrots, boiled and sauteed in butter and oil; steamed spinach, chopped, herbed and salted. Not very ambitious to begin with, it arrived several degrees cooler than the main veal dish, which was disap- pointing because the veal was first rate. Liked the spinach idea, - though; it provided some relief trom the tired steamed broccoli, cauliflower and zuc- chini vegetable accompani- ment served too often at 100 many restaurants — too bad the delivery was not up to scratch. Da Gino’s pizzas remain legendary, as they have been since Gino Milano and his wite Ani opened their pizze- ria in January 1991 as Gino's Original Brick Oven Pizzeria. Aside from patrons par- taking of said pizza in Da Gino’s dining room, a steady flow leaves through the front door with takeout customers or through the backdoor on its way to Da Gino delivery vehicles, A better execution of some good Italian dishes and more professional service would elevate Da Gino’s din- ing experience to the next level. Da Vinci, perhaps not, but informal culinary artistry nonetheless. Suzuki For Suzuki, Sunrunner. Asuna & Firefly Includes parts, 5 litres of oll & safety inspection paris, fospection and reset 10 factory specifications uoag Nino’s Cafe, 2232 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 921- 2228. Following a death in the family, the gracious A.]. Azma and his wife Vida have sold their homey Persian cate in preparation for a return to their native Tehran. The couple had run Nino’s since late 1997 after taking over from the short- lived Espresso Gallery Cafe coffee bar. A new owner is set to launch something called Excuse Me in the locale. More details when they become available. Qgo90a See Dinner page 33 Unbeatable price incl. new pads, machine rotors & complete inspection You'll save money later. 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